Acetylene generator



Filed NOV- 1, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 4 1924.

J. HARRIS ACEIYLENE GENERATOR Filed Nov. 1 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1-, 192.4.

E STAE JOHN HARE-IE7, CE LAKEVIOOD, OHIO.

ACETYLENE GENERATQR.

Application filed November T 0 all whom it may ounce/ 72 Be it known that 1, JOHN HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Acetylene Generators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to acetylene apparatus, and has for its objects to improve the construction of the means for feeding carbide to the generator; to provide means whereby, when the carbide tank or receptacle is to be filled, the escape of gas into the apartment wherein the generator is located is prevented; and generally to improve the construction of the holder wherein the gas is stored for supply. Generally speaking, the invention may be defined as consisting of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a sectional view of an acetylene apparatus constructed in accordance wit-h my invention.the lower portion of the generator being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 represents a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the cover or hood for the carbide receptacle; and Fig. 4 represents an enlarged sectional view of the valves by which the flow of carbide into the generator is controlled.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 represents the generator, communicat ing by a pipe 2 with the holder 3. The generator is provided near the upper portion thereof with transverse partition 4 having a central opening 5, through which carbide is introduced into the generator through the casing 6. The lower portion of the generator is provided with a floor 7, above the base. thereof. said floor sloping downwardly to the outlet 8 through which exhausted material is withdrawn from the generator.

A tube 9 extends downwardly from the partition 4 into the body of the generator, a short distance above the floor 7, and is provided with a spout-10 extending from above the bottom thereof.

11 designates one branch of a rod, the upper end of which is connected to a lever 12. pivoted at 13 and having its outer end pro vided with a rule-joint operating finger 14. The branch 11 extends downwardly and 1, 1920. Serial No. 420,943.

centrally through the tube 9, through a hole in the bottom thereof, and is connected with the upwardly extending branch 15 by which the valves controlling the flow of carbide to the generator are operated. The branch 15 extends through a guide 16 secured to the wall of the casing 6. Above this guide, it is bent outwardly and upwardly, toprovide an upward extension 17 projecting centrally through the valves 18 and 19, which control the supply of carbide to the generator. The upper end of said extension is guided in a sleeve 20 carried by the conical distributer 21, which is supported within and spaced from the bottom of the main receptacle 22 by means of brackets 28. The bottom 24 of the receptacle 22 is inclined downwardly to facilitate the feed of the carbide and is provided with a central opening 25 whereby carbide may be discharged into the auxiliary receptacle 26, which is beneath the receptacle 22, and wholly within the casing 6. The receptacle 26 is also provided with a downwardly inclined bottom 27 having a central opening 28 therein. The extension 17 of the valve rod projects centrally through the openings 25 and 28, as well as through the valves 18 and 19. As will appear more particularly from Fig. 4, the valves are of frustro-conical shape with their bases normally closing the openings 25 and 28. The former valve is connected to the extension 17, as by mean of a set screw 29, whereby itmay move therewith. The valve 19 is loosely sleeved on the rod 17 and is normally unaffected by the movement thereof. The extension is. however, provided with a projeotion 30, which is adapted to engage the valve 19 and lift the same when the valve rod has been operated the desired distance.

The upper portion of the generator, above the partition 4, constitutes both a water supply receptacle for the generator proper therebelow and an overflow receptacle whereinto water may be forced from the lower portion of the generator should the pressure of the gas therein become excessive. The pipe 2, which conveys gas into the holder, has one end connected to the partition 4, while the other end terminates in a perforated distributing cylinder 31 in a receptacle 32, which is enclosed within the base 33 of the holder. This receptacle is nearly filled with water whereby the gas discharged through the perforations 31 is washed before passing through the tube 34 into the bell 35. The lower end of the tube 34 projects through and is carried by the bottom wall 36 of the tank or receptacle wherein the bell reciprocates, said tank or receptacle containing water for sealing the lower end of the bell. The base 33 constitutes a condensation chamber wherein water-vapor mingled with the gas may condense. To prevent the Water from rising to an undesirable height in the condensation chamber and sealing the gas tube and vent pipe, the base is provided with an outlet 37 communicating with an open-topped receptacle 38 formed on the outside of the base. The upper portion or holder proper is conveniently supported on the base by resting on the flanges 39 and is firmly secured to said base by means of a rod 40 which extends through the bottom 36 and the bottom 41 of the base, being secured in place by means of nuts 42, 43 threaded onto said rod above and below the bottom 36 and 41 respectively. The bottom 41 tapers upwardly or is conical to permit the lower end of the rod to clear the floor or othersupport for the base.

44 designates a vent pipe which projects upwardly into a guide tube 4L5 carried by the bell. The lower end of this tube comrn'unicates with the space between the bot tom and the top of the water in the condensation chamber. 46 designates a lateral branch projecting through the wall of the casing 33, whence it may lead to any desired point of discharge outside of the apartment in which the apparatus is located. To prevent any undue accumulation of gas in thebe'll from elevating the same to a height to unseal the bottom thereof, vent openings l? are provided in the guide tube 45 carried by the bell thereby, when the bell is elevated a sufficient distance to bring said openings above the level of the water in the tank, may pass into the tube 45 and into the open. upper end of: pipe 44, whence it passes to the point of discharge.

The holder is provided with the usual house pipe 48, the lower end of which pro-- "'jects downwardly nearly to the bottom of he condensation chamber, providing means for receiving any water or condensation thatinay be in the A lateral branch 49Jof the pipe 4-8 conducts the gas to the points of use. The holder is provided with an arm 50. the lower end of which carries a projection 51 for engaging the finger 14 and operating the valve rod when the cue within the holder, is reduced. to a predetermined extent. When the holder descends, his lug engages the finger 14: and operates the valve rod, liftingthe valve 18.- If any material quantity of carbide be present in the auxiliary receptacle 26, sufiicient gas "will be generated to elevate the holder withempty as is ordinarily the case, the holder will continue to descend and the projection 30 will engage the bottom of the valve 19. lifting the same and supplying carbide from the main receptacle into the auxiliary receptacle and thence into the generator. Should the bell descend until the projection 51 passes below the finger i l. the manner of pivoting said finger will enable the projection to pass thereby on the up ward movement of the holder without affecting the position of the valve rod.

The purpose of the lower receptacle" 26 and valve 13 is to provide a safety cut-elf for the carbide in the event that the valve 19 should fail to be seated as the rod 17 descends. It may happen that some lumps of carbide will be interposed between the bottom of. the valve 19 and the adjacent surface of the inclined bottom 24, with the result that carbide will continue to flow from the receptacle 22. The provision of the auxiliary receptacle 26 and the valve 18 insui'es the cutting off of the carbide from the generator even should the valve 19 Prove inelfectivc.

The valve 19 is the principal valve forthis valve will nearly always be so lifted an except-ion to the rule occurring when it has been held up by a lump or lumps of carbide. WVhen so held up. some finely divided carbide feeds into the receptacle 26, whence it drops into the qeneraton when the valve rod is lifted. If there is insufficieut carbide in 26 to generate Qas in sufii cient quantities to lift the bell a dis tance to carry 51 above 14, the further descent of the bell will cause the valve 19 to be lifted and the principal supply of carbide will be turned onto the generator.

l Vhen l9 fails to seat. for the reasons above stated. the valve .18 will seat, as the quantity a branch pipe leading from the pipe 2- throuqh the wall of the hase or condensation chamber above the level of the water therein and outside of the receptacle 32.

This pipe is provided with. valve 53 hav ing an o iciating aandlc 5% which extends across the handle 553 by which the valve if the outlet 8 is operated. This handle is connected by a chain 57 with an arm projecting from a cover which is hinged to the top of the tank 22 and covers the clore 6 thereon. This closure 60 is of a familiar type including a hail 61, cover plate 62. and threaded stem 63, extending through d bail and threaded thereinto, with its lower end engaging the cover plate (52. whereby the cover plate may be firmly forced down on top of the receptacle. Before removing the cover, it will be neces sary to swing bacl: the hood 59. In so doing, the arm 58 will lift the handle 54, open the valve and provide a path of least re- ;istance for the flow of the gas in the upper portion of the generator and casing through the branch 46 of the vent pipe.

The advantage of my construction hereinbefore described will be apparent. By the provision of the auxiliary receptacle 26, excessive feed of carbide to the tank is prevented. Furthermore, by the automatic venting of the generator, the annoyance and danger incident to liberating the gas into the apartment where the generator is located at the time of filling the tank with carbide are obviated. Extending the branch 11 of the valve rod through the opening in the bottom of the tube 9 secures a liquid seal for the opening through which said branch extends and dispenses with the necessit-y for packing the same. The constant circulation of water through the tube 9 prevents the accumulation of calcium hydrate on the rod 11 and the clogging of the movements of the rod through the tube 9. At the same time, by using the lateral spout and closing the lower end of the tube around the rod, there can be no leakage of gas through the tube 9, should the carbide get under the lower end of said tube, the tube acting as a combined seal and water supply tube.

In operation, carbide drops from auxil iary receptacle 26, through openings 28 and 5 into the water within generator 1. The usual chemical reaction takes place and the acetylene gas evolved rises to the top of the generator housing and is conducted through pipe 2 to receptacle 32 where it is washed as previously described. The washed gas then rises through pipe 34 to hell 35 and is stored until required for use, whereupon it is withdrawn through pipes 48 and 49. .is the gas is withdrawn from the bell it descends and projection 51 engages finger 14: to operate valves 18 and 19 to supply another charge of carbide to the generator as previously set forth.

While I have necessarily described my invention in detail, it will be evident that such details may be departed from more or less without avoiding the spirit of my invenand I do not propose to be limited to such details except as they may be positively included in the claims hereto annexed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In an acetylene apparatus, the combination of a generator, a main carbide receptacle having a downwardly inclined bottom with a central outlet, a valve above the inclined bottom and controlling the outlet, an auxiliary receptacle below the former receptacle and having an inclined bottom with a central outlet therethrough, a valve above the inclined bottom of the latter receptacle and controlling the outlet, a rod extending through said valves, the latter valve being connected to the rod and the first-mentioned valve being loose on said rod, and a projection on said rod intermediate said valve and adapted to engage and lift the first-mentioned valve when the rod has been moved a predetermined distance, substantially as specified.

2. In an acetylene apparatus, the combination of a generator, a carbide-supplying device therefor comprising superposed receptacles, each being provided with a downwardly inclined bottom having a central outlet, a conical valve in each of said receptacles, the base of each of said valves coacting with the inclined bottom of its receptacle and controlling the supply of carbide through the outlet, a common valveoperating rod for both of said valves, said rod being rigidly connected to one of said valves, the other of said valves being slidably mounted on said rod, and means on said rod interposed between said valves and adapted to engage the slidably mounted valve when therigidly mounted valve has been moved a predetermined distance by said rod, substantially as specified.

3. In an acetylene apparatus, the com bination of a generator, a main carbide receptacle having a downwardly inclined bottom provided with a central outlet, an auxiliary carbide receptacle, the latter receptacle having an inclined bottom provided with a central outlet, a valve above the inclined bottom of each of said receptacles and controlling the outlets thereof, a rod common to both said valves and fixed to the lower valve, the upper valve being slidably mounted on said rod, a lever connected with said rod, a gas holder, means carried by said holder for engaging said lever to move said rod by the depression of the holder, and a valve-engaging device on said rod adapted to engage the valve in the upper receptacle and lift the same when the valve in the lower receptacle has been elevated a predetermined distance.

4. In an acetylene apparatus, the combination of a generator and a water supply tank thereabove, a carbide receptacle above said. generator, a downwardly projecting tube communicating with said water receptacle and projecting into the generator, a valve for controlling the supply of carbide from the Carbide receptacle, a valve rod operatively connected with said valve and comprising two branches, one of said 10 branches extending upwardly through said tube and said tube forming at the bottom thereof a close joint with said rod, an op erating arm connected with the upwardly extending branch oi said rod and a gas holder having a projection'adapted to engage said arm, said tube being provided above such joint with a lateral outlet to supply the'generator with water from the supply tank.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto a-fiix my signature.

JOHN HARRIS. 

